China/EU stoush over solar panels at tipping point

BEIJING – China’s Ministry of Commerce has imposed preliminary anti-dumping duties on imports of US and South Korean solar-grade polysilicon, but made no decision on tariffs on European Union exports of the raw material used to make solar panels. The move coincides with difficult talks between the EU and China to defuse a conflict over alleged dumping of Chinese solar panels in Europe. Both the US and the EU have imposed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese solar panels, which could easily expand into a wider trade war involving European wine exports as well as steel.